Softball Recaps: March 3

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. - The Grambling State University softball team split a pair of games on Saturday to conclude play at the HBCU Classic. The Lady Tigers defeated Lincoln (Mo.), 7-3, in the opener, but dropped a 10-2 decision in five innings to Langston.

In the opener against Lincoln, Grambling State (6-11) fell behind 1-0 in the first, but explode for five runs in the third to grab a 5-1 lead.

Monique Smith opened the frame with a bunt single. She stole second and came in to score on a throwing error by the catch. With one down, Mercedes Williams and Tayler Lenz-Selvera drew back-to-back walks. Morgan Adams followed and reached on an error to load the bases. Allye Hartley delivered a big single through the left side to plate Williams and Lenz-Selvera. Lakira Mitchell reached on an infield hit to score Adams as Hartley stopped at third. Tiffany Doss plated Hartley on a sacrifice bunt as the Lady Tigers broke the game open.

Grambling State picked up one run in the bottom of the fourth and one in the fifth to take a 7-2 lead into the seventh.

The Lady Lions cut the margin to 7-3 with one run in the seventh, but could not get any closer.

In the second game, Grambling State jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first, but the Lady Lions scored two runs in the first, one in the second and five in the third to take an 8-1 advantage into the fourth.

The Lady Tigers got a run back in the top of the fourth, but saw Langston plate two runs in the bottom of the frame as Langston claimed a 10-2 victory.

Courtesy: Grambling State Sports Information

Incarnate Word 3, Alabama State 2 Buffalo 3, Alabama State 1

MADEIRA BEACH, Fla. - Alabama State dropped a pair of games at the EMU Madeira Beach Invitational, hosted by Eastern Michigan, Saturday as they fell to Incarnate Word and Buffalo on the second day of the event.

Alabama State lost their first game of the day to Incarnate Word 3-2, before giving up two runs in the six-inning in a 3-1 loss to Buffalo to end the day.

In game one, Incarnate World got on the board first as the first four hitters drew walks before a second run came by way of a fielder’s choice for the early 2-0 lead. However, Aimee Felicies put Alabama State when she led off the inning with a double and advanced to third on infield error that allowed Taylor Rosser to reach and pushed Felicies to third. She later stole home for the first run of the game for Alabama State.

Kaylee Davis kept the inning alive as she singled to right to drive in Rosser, before Incarnate Word was able to score in the top of the sixth for the final margin.

In game two, Kristin Gunter got Alabama State on the board with a home run to left – the only run of the game for Alabama State, before Buffalo was able to put the game away in the sixth with a pair of runs.

Vanessa Bradford gave up three runs off of five hits in the nightcap, with one strikeout.

Courtesy: Alabama State Athletic Strategic Communications

Sam Houston State 1, Alcorn State 0 Lamar 6, Alcorn State 2

STARKVILLE, Miss. – A pair of competitive games didn't end in favor of Alcorn State as Sam Houston State ended on top 1-0 and Lamar 6-4 Saturday at Nusz Park during the Mississippi State Bulldog Slamboree.

Paige Taylor tossed a gem for Alcorn (1-12) in the first game. She threw all 7.0 innings for her second complete-game this year and allowed just one run. However, she was outdone by Lindsey McCleod from SHSU (6-12) who threw a one-hitter in a complete-game shutout and struck one nine.

Alcorn had its first key chance in the second inning. The Lady Braves loaded the bases with two outs after walks from Amari Ramsey, Bri Smith and Alicia Hill. Though, McCleod was able to get out of it with a strikeout to end the threat.

The Lady Braves had another opportunity in the sixth when they loaded the bases again, this time with one out. It came after Ramsey and Dickerson both walked and Smith singled. However, McCleod forced a foul out and a strikeout to escape.

SHSU's lone run came in the third inning. It came on a one out RBI single to right field by Bailey White. It scored Megan McDonald who was three-for-four in the contest.

In game two, Lamar (9-9) jumped in front with five runs in the first inning. The Cardinals added another in the fifth to go up 6-0.

Alcorn got in the board with two runs in the bottom of the fifth. Ramsey led it off with a single to right and advanced to second on a walk by senior Mariah Ortiz. Taylor Hughes singled up the middle to score Ramsey. Victoria Tyler followed it up with a hit to right center to plate Ortiz.

The Lady Braves outhit the Cardinals 8-6 in the match. Hughes and sophomore Taja Landry each knocked a pair.

Junior Winter Ridgeway got the start and struck out four in 5.0 innings. Sophomore Ambria Dorsey enter in relief and tossed 2.0 scoreless innings and struck out two. Amie Cisneros pitched a complete-game for Lamar and grabbed the win.

Courtesy: Alcorn State Sports Information

Southern 10, Texas College 0 (F/5)

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. - Southern's Aubrion James threw a four-hit shutout as the Jaguars rolled over Texas College 10-0 in five innings to conclude its tournament play at the National HBCU Classic.

Southern wasted no time getting out in front, as the Jaguars scored five in the first inning. After Elizabeth Donaldson singled and stole second, Kiara Suttles laid down a bunt single and reached second on the throw, ultimately scoring Donaldson. Suttles moved to third via a wild pitch and Jamani Greer put down a bunt single to bring Suttles home. Shauna Knighten later smacked a three-run triple to right center.

The Jaguars added five more runs over the ensuing three innings, more than enough for James to protect the lead. Greer was 3-for-3, and Suttles also drove in three runs. Donaldson and Knighten had two hits each. James struck out six.

Texas Southern 4, Huston-Tillotson 0

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. - Texas Southern shut out Huston Tillotson 4-0 to conclude its play in the National HBCU Classic.

In all, the Lady Tigers used six arms to deal a combined two-hitter. Clarissa Santos and Zariah Robbins each had two hits, with Santos driving in two runs and Robbins scoring two runs.

TSU struck first thanks to a RBI bunt single by Madilynn Marek that scored Terren Vinson. Coren Davis added to the lead in the fourth with a RBI single that brought home Julia Bilbao. Santos slapped a RBI double in the next inning, bringing in Robbins, and Santos picked up a RBI single in the seventh, bringing in Robbins again.

HOUSTON - Mississippi Valley State split during Saturday action at the University of Houston's Red and White Showcase. Mississippi Valley dropped a 3-2 decision to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi but rebounded for a 6-5 win over Stephen F. Austin.

Against TAMU-CC, Mississippi Valley squandered an early scoring chance, stranding Lexany Terrones and Kailyn Dunn after they produced consectuive singles. MVSU behind 3-0 after two innings, as Kaylee Hoppens smacked a two-run shot for the Islanders and Keagan Helson delivered a RBI sac fly. Jodeci Afoa-Tuia scored on a wild pitch in the fourth for the Devilettes, who added another run via error in the sixth, but Mississippi Valley was unable to get any more done offensively.

Afoa-Tuia had two hits.

Versus the Ladyjacks, MVSU overcame a 4-2 deficit with four runs over the middle innings. MVSU got within one on a RBI single by Jaime Parmley, and Elissa Salinas went yard in the fifth to tie the game. Dejanae Gage followed with a two-run blast to put MVSU ahead 6-4.

In the seventh, the Ladyjacks got within one on Amber Landry's second home run of the game, but the Devilettes retired the remainder of the side to seal the win. Gage was 2-for-4 with two runs scored.

NATCHITOCHES, La. - Arkansas-Pine Bluff dropped both sides of a Saturday twinbill at Northwestern State by scores of 6-5 and 7-0.

In game one, UAPB fell behind 3-0 but put together a five-run fourth inning -- highlighted by RBI singles from Karia Hall and Kameron Graham and a two-run double from Toni Martinez -- to take the lead. However, a lack of command from UAPB starter Juliana Dominguez was costly in the fifth, as four Lady Demon hitters reached via walk or hit by pitch, with two of those incidents resulting in RBIs. Northwestern State managed three runs in the frame, ultimately sniping the win away.

Martinez was 2-for-3. Dominguez was assessed the loss, allowing six earned runs on five hits and walking four.

UAPB mustered just three hits in game two, as Karia Hall was charged with the loss. She allowed eight hits and seven runs (four earned).

Jackson State 4, Talladega College 1 Jackson State 13, Texas College 5 (F/5)

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. - Jackson State picked up two wins in Saturday action at the National HBCU Classic, downign Texas College 13-5 in five innings and besting Talladega College 4-1.

Against Talladega, JSU broke open a 1-1 game in the fifth inning as Brianna Ross scored on an Alyssa Fisher single that was extended due to a fielding error. Kayla Owens later followed with a RBI single. Marlisa Scott then belted a triple in the sixth, later scoring on an error.

Owens scattered six hits and fanned five in a complete game win, and added two hits.

Kelsey Smith and Sierra Smith dominated Texas College's pitching in the second contest as the duo combined for 10 RBI. S. Smith hit for the cycle in the game, going 4-for-4 with two runs scored and four RBI, including a three-run homer in the second inning.

K. Smith was 3-for-4 with six RBI and two runs scored, hitting a grand slam in the fourth inning to give Jackson State a 11-3 lead after four.